A few days ago, I spent two hours talking with a dear friend. She’s going through a rough time right now. Maybe you can relate.

I’m not going to go into the details because, really, they don’t matter. It could be her health, her job, her marriage. The point is, my friend is scared. She has moments of feeling strong and guided, but it also feels like her life is unraveling. And she has no idea where it will end.

Have you ever felt like that? Like the things you believe, the things you count on, that you know for certain about yourself, suddenly aren’t so certain?

At one point in our conversation, my friend said, “It’s a real Shero’s Journey.” Though I hadn’t said anything, I was thinking the same thing.

And as I continued to listen, I just felt over and over that she should be supported. Something really big is happening to her, not just on the surface but within. That’s the nature of a Shero’s Journey, whether we call it that or not.

And as shitty as it feels, there is so much good to be had.

There is so much potential to create from this unraveling a truly miraculous life, with even more love, more grace, more fulfillment. There is the potential for my friend to step ever deeper into her purpose, to refine her service to the world in her own magnificent, unique way….

And she should have everything she needs to do that.

We all should.

And just like that it was clear, yet again, why I do what I do. Why I tell the stories I tell, why I teach what I teach, why I coach. Because every one of us should have the opportunity to harness the potential in our adversity.

The fact is, any challenge can launch a Shero’s Journey. Every challenge holds that potential. It’s not about the magnitude of the thing. It’s not chosen by some higher power. It is chosen by us.

It’s about how we choose to engage with the drama life is handing us. And our choice, alone, elevates the possibilities.

And it doesn’t matter when we make that choice. The opportunity never goes away. We might be right in the middle or ten years past. It is never too early or too late.

Talking to my friend, I could feel my heart beating with prayers: If she must feel this pain and fear, then let it do more than cause suffering. Let it bring her right with herself. Let it empower her to serve and to soar. Let it set her truly free.

And that is what I want for you, for all of us.

You know, paralysis surprised me. It was so hard, but it set me free. It held the key to literally everything I desired — love, family, success, happiness, meaning, and purpose.

If you have been hurt, or suffered a loss, or been put through the wringer, you’re already in the presence of the same potent pool I had. All that’s left is to tap the potential and let your experience set you free.